One thought on “The Theogony”

I liked learning the Greek version of the story of creation. I always find learning about gods fun. The stories were a little weird, but that’s what makes them interesting. I think the gods’ behavior is exaggerated so they can be used as examples. Hesiod wanted to show their mistakes so that we learn from them. Cronos and Zeus kept eating their children, because they feared a prophecy that said their children would be their downfall. The mothers had to find ways around it. Some of it didn’ [...]

Although I cannot read Greek, I enjoyed this English translation of Hesiod's Theogony. I can only imagine how this would read in the original language. This book is the basis of our understanding of ancient Greek religion. This work list the pantheon of Greek Gods and Goddesses and their origins. One could pose the question: What is mythology? Mythology is simply a religion that is no longer practiced by human beings. All deities spring from the human imagination just as Athena sprang from the h [...]

Definitely an interesting addition to my mythology course. Theogony stands as a modern Bible in antiquity and it definitely shows. It was interesting to read about how all of the gods came about and who their children became. This poem is scattered with minor events that explain about Tartarus and the conflicts surrounding the gods and the children of Heaven and Earth. The notes helped tremendously!This is definitely one I want to study in more detail.

Hesiod's epic catalogue of Greek mythological figures. This is not an emotionally involving narrative like the Homeric epics, rather a long genealogy that goes off on tangents of some of the very early myths, most of which concern the Titanomachy and Gigantomachy. Hesiod's language is so arcane it can be hard to tell what he's saying. Not a particularly fun read, but definitely recommended if you want a comprehensive list of Grecian deities and a synopsis of their origins.

Man, it was SO INTERESTING! I read all the way 'til the finish without being bored, although the names of some of the nymphs escaped me. Anyway the relationship between the gods is a twisted, broken, and incomprehensible mess and it's really interesting to try and decipher how they behave towards each other. In that regard they are more, and less human, than the rest of us. It really gets you thinking about the nature of humanity and the senselessness of some of the actions we throw around.

Another book for a course, really could not get to grips with it as it was more like huge lists than a readable tale. I felt as though I should be drawing mindmaps or some other diagram to allow me to follow it. I read as much as was required for this section of my Greek Mythology course and that was it.

Definitely I can't stand all this long genealogies, I just kind of zone out, but I know they are a main trait of myths. Nevertheless, I liked that it was precise and brief despite all else and the translation was an easy one to read.

Hesiod is not a great storyteller, but he knew how to rationalize their (Greek) traditional customs and beliefs in a way that even a modern reader can understand or imagine them. Actually I enjoyed it a lot.